Gang lock for cabinets



May 9, 1967 GANG LOCK FOR CABIETS C. J. @EL 3,318,646

Fild Sept, 10, 1965 Patented May 9, 1967 3,318,646 GANG LUCK EURCABINETS Charles J. Ihel, Brentwood, NSY., assigner to Supreme SteelEquipment Corp. Filed Sept. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 487,107 12 Claims. (Cl.S12-218) The present invention is directed to locking devices,particularly for cabinets having doors or drawers which are capable ofbeing locked simultaneously.

It is among the objects of the invention to devise a gang lock adaptedto be installed in a small space, having a minimum of parts and which isinexpensive to manufacture.

It is also among the objects of the invention to produce a latching orlocking arrangement of the above type which may be inserted in a narrowspace on the side and top or bottom of a cabinet, and which does notrequire the use of machined elements, whereby the `assembly of theelements does not require a high degree of skill for the installationthereof.

It is further among the objects of the invention to provide a mechanismwhich is positive in its operation in locking and unlocking the drawers,doors or slides of a cabinet, and in which the structure is simple buthighly effective.

In practicing the invention there is provided a locking bar along oneside of the cabinet and usually in a double wall thereof. The bar isadapted to move up and down and suitable latches, which enter keepers inthe drawers or doors, are operated through the bar. An arm in the top ofthe cabinet has a `cam entering an opening near the top of the bar andit is operated horizontally by a key or other element to lower or raisethe bar so that it performs its intended function. Adjacent to eachdrawer is a locking lug pivoted on the cabinet and so connected to thelocking bar as to be inserted into an opening or slot in the drawer tolock it `by movement of the bar vertically.

The invention is more fully described in connection with theaccompanying drawing constituting a part hereof, in which like referencecharacters indicate like parts, and in which FIG. 1 is a fragmentaryfront elevational view of the upper part of a cabinet provided with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the side of the cabinet,some parts being broken away for clearness, and having the elements ofthe operating mechanism for latching;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the top of the cabinet, some parts beingomitted and some parts being in section;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 3, andin which the device is in lockingr position, some parts being brokenaway and others being in section to more clearly indicate the structure;and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrating the position of theelements in inoperative or unlocked position.

With reference to the drawing, the cabinet 1 is shown as having slidingdrawers 2 and a hollow top 3. Within channel 4 at one side is a flatvertical locking bar 5 having a series of openings 6 therein, therebeing such an opening alongside each drawer. At the top of bar 5 is anopening or keeper 7 for the reception of a cam. Bracket 8 has pivotedtherein at 9 a cam 10. At the opposite side of the cam is horizontal arm11, the end of which is pivoted to the cam `at 12.

The other end of arm 11 is pivoted to link 14 at 15. The other end oflink 14 is pivoted at 16 to extension 17 mounted in the cabinet. A lock14 has a tongue extending therefrom and into angular hole 13' of link13.

Pivoted at 18 is the latch which has a nose 19 adapted to enter slot 20of the drawer. It has a tail 21 which is jointed to the nose by neck 22having a rearward hook between tail 21 and nose 19. The tail extends tothe left of locking lbar 5 with neck 22 in slot 6 when the mechanism isin locking position as shown in FIG. 4. In this position, arm 11, link13, and extension 17 are in horizontal alinement and only the tip 10' ofcam 10 is in opening 7. By turning a key in lock 14 or by other meanslink 13 is pivoted into the position shown in FIG. 5 causing cam 10 topivot about pin 9 and moving downward against the bottom of opening 7causing bar 5 t0 move downward so that the top of openings 6 pressagainst neck 22 rotating the latch about its pivot 18 counterclockwiseinto the position seen in FIG. 5, where it is free from opening 20 ofthe drawer, which is now unlocked. An opening 6 in channel 4 and innerrear wall 1 above opening 6 provides upper and lower aligned holes. Thereverse movement of key 14 will straighten the linkage, raise thelocking bar, rotate the latch clockwise, and lock the drawer.

Although the invention has been described setting for the single specicembodiment thereof, the invention is not limited thereto as variouschanges may be made in the details of construction within the spirit ofthe invention. For instance, in place of linkages 11-13-17 themechanical equivalents thereof may [be employed. Instead of the linkagebeing at the top of the cabinet, it may be placed at the bottom or evenin an intermediate position between two of the drawers. The mechanismincluding the locking -bar may be placed at the rear of the cabinetinstead of at the side thereof. While a downward movement of the lockingbar unlocks the drawers, the mechanism may be so arranged as to lock thedrawers on the downward movement. While the cabinet has been shown ashaving a double wall within which the locking bar arrangement ismounted, there may be only a single wall, and the arrangement may bewithin or even outside of the wall.

These and other changes may be made in the details of the shape, size,materials of construction and relative positions, within the scope ofthe invention which is not to be limited except by the character of theclaims appended hereto. In the following claims the term drawersincludes doors.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cabinet having a plurality of drawers or doors in alinement, theimprovement which comprises a locking bar adjacent to one side of saiddrawers, openings in said bar for each drawer, a keeper opening in saidlocking bar, an arm having a locking cam adapted to enter said keeperopening, means for sliding said arm back and forth to selectively lockand unlock said drawers, a latch holder adjacent to said locking bar, alocking lug for each drawer pivoted on said holder and having a nose anda tail extending in opposite directions from said said pivot, saidlocking lbar being in operative rela- -tion to said tail, a slot in saiddrawer for the reception of said nose, said nose when in operativeposition entering said slot, and said nose and tail entering said keeperopening when in operative position.

2. A cabinet according to claim 1 characterized in that said nose andtail are connected by an intermediate neck.

3. A cabinet according to claim 2 characterized in that said nose has arearward hook, a pair of alined holes in said locking bar, said neckentering the lower hole and said hook entering said upper hole.

4. A cabinet according to claim 2 characterized in that said latchholder has an opening in its front face for the reception of said nose,and means at a side thereof for supporting the pivot of said lockinglug..

5. A cabinet according to claim 2 characterized in that said latchholder being channel shaped and providing a guide for said locking bar.

6. A cabinet according to claim 1 characterized in that the tip of saidlocking cam is held in said bar opening, and means are provided forpivoting said cam between open and closed portions of said latch.

7. A cabinet according to claim 6 characterized in that the length ofsaid opening is greater than the depth of said tip.

8. A cabinet according to claim 6 characterized in that the rear of saidcam is pivoted and said -arm is adapted to oscillate to cause said tipto move from top to bottom of said opening.

9. A cabinet according to claim 6 characterized in that said pivotingmeans include a link pivoted at one end to said arm, said link having anangular cavity into which the stem of a lock is held.

10. A cabinet according to claim 9 characterized in that said stemextends through said cabinet.

11. A cabinet according to claim 10 characterized in that the length ofsaid opening is greater than `the depth of said tip, the rear of saidcam is pivoted and said arm is adapted to oscillate to cause said tip tomove from top to lbottom of said opening, the pivoting means for saidarm include a link pivoted at one end to said arm, said link having anangular cavity into which the stem of a lock is held.

12. A cabinet according to claim 1 characterized in that said cabinethas a double side wall dening a space, said locking bar, latch holderand pivot being mounted within said space.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,006,983 10/1911Schaffert 312-218 X 1,073,274 10/1913 Millice 312-218 2,225,243 12/1940Zottel 3l2-219 2,930,666 3/1960 lbel 312-218 FOREIGN PATENTS 708,3337/1931 France.

JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

1. IN A CABINET HAVING A PLURALITY OF DRAWERS OR DOORS IN ALINEMENT, THEIMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A LOCKING BAR ADJACENT TO ONE SIDE OF SAIDDRAWERS, OPENINGS IN SAID BAR FOR EACH DRAWER, A KEEPER OPENING IN SAIDLOCKING BAR, AN ARM HAVING A LOCKING CAM ADAPTED TO ENTER SAID KEEPEROPENING, MEANS FOR SLIDING SAID ARM BACK AND FORTH TO SELECTIVELY LOCKAND UNLOCK SAID DRAWERS, A LATCH HOLDER ADJACENT TO SAID LOCKING BAR, ALOCKING LUG FOR EACH DRAWER PIVOTED ON SAID HOLDER AND HAVING A NOSE ANDA TAIL EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM SAID SAID PIVOT, SAIDLOCKING BAR BEING IN OPERATIVE RELATION TO SAID TAIL, A SLOT IN SAIDDRAWER FOR THE RECEPTION OF SAID NOSE, SAID NOSE WHEN IN OPERATIVEPOSITON ENTERING SAID SLOT, AND SAID NOSE AND TAIL ENTERING SAID KEEPEROPENING WHEN IN OPERATIVE POSITION.